A “Hands-on” Approach to Science, Technology and Innovation Policy
J. Adam Holbrook, P.Eng.,
Associate Director,
Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology
Simon Fraser University
What is science, technology and innovation policy?
Science, technology and innovation (STI) policy in Canada, as a subject of study and an
area of professional expertise , is relatively unseen, if for no other reason than despite
many attempts, the federal government has been unable to form a national consensus on
STI issues and policies. The result has been a laissez-faire approach to STI issues which
has, over the past decades, severely damaged Canada’s ability to establish its position in
the global scientific community.
Under these circumstances why should we even study STI policy? There are several
objectives:
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assist in formulating of STI policy, in support of economic and social objectives;
provide advice to ministers and other senior officials;
support, justify, and critique STI program expenditures;
provide information on scientific activities for elected officials, journalists and
other stakeholders; and,
analyse the national system of innovation
The Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology (CPROST) is one of the few
academic centres in Canada specifically devoted to these subjects.
What is CPROST?
CPROST was established in 1988 as an independent institute within the Faculty of
Applied Science at Simon Fraser University (SFU) to carry out research on the
relationship between public policy and technology. CPROST brings together
practitioners and scholars to study the interaction of advances in STI, their
implementation in the marketplace , and their impacts on community and individual
interests.
The CPROST mandate is to:
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to improve public policy and private decision-making processes by increasing
public participation and promoting sound methodologies for the implementation
of technological change;
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to promote an understanding of the relationship between public and private
sectors as they stimulate, monitor and control the process of technological
innovation;
to develop and retain researchers skilled in advanced quantitative and quantitative
research techniques;
to enhance the effectiveness and global competitiveness of client organizations by
creating and refining tools for the management of innovation
CPROST is self-supporting; operating costs are met from funds from research grants and
contracts. A percentage of all contracts is paid to the university to cover overheads costs.
For the most part, research assistants are hired from among graduate students enrolled in
the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University. The School of Communication
provides administrative support to CPROST.
Currently CPROST activities fall into the following major areas:
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analysis of current and proposed government innovation policies and programs
studies into the factors affecting innovation in regional systems of innovation
studies on indicators of scientific, technological and innovation performance
research into telecommunications policy as it affects disaster mitigation
studies on the effects of technologies and policies affecting the multimedia
industry
an on-going probe into the user “experience” of new media technologies
studies on the policies and implementation of the Scientific Research and
Experimental development tax credit program
As examples some of our current projects include:
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participation in the SSHRC-sponsored Innovation Systems Research Network
(ISRN). CPROST hosts the activities of the region sub-network of ISRN,
InnoCom.
A study on the interaction between commercial technologies and the new,
increased, standards for drinking water
A large team of research assistants and post-doctoral fellows engaged in a novel
form of technology roadmapping, focused on user experience;
development of wireless Internet devices for use in hostile environments , such as
those found during disaster mitigation activities
provision of support to the book editor for the journal Science and Public Policy
development of a proposal for a quantum-computation laboratory in Vancouver
a study on potential gender biases in innovation studies
CPROST has, at this time, six tenured faculty and four adjunct faculty, along with a
number of associated researchers at other institutions. At any given time at least a dozen
graduate and undergraduate students are employed as part-time research assistants.
Throughout the year, CPROST hosts visiting scholars from a number of countries.
CPROST currently occupies nine closed offices and four open offices, along with a
multipurpose equipment and data storage area.
CPROST offers a certificate to graduate students who complete a specific course of
studies in the SFU School of Communication and practical research and teaching
activities showing that they have completed training in both the theory and practice of
S&T policy analysis.
Why would students want to study STI policy?
Even though the field is narrow, and even though both federal and provincial
governments have been downsizing their policy-making activities over the past few
years, The profession of “policy analyst” these days generally requires a post-graduate
degree in some related discipline, though not necessarily a PhD, even though an
academic career usually requires a doctorate and peer-reviewed publications.
CPROST graduates have generally found employment in areas directly related to their
studies. Recent graduates are employed by government departments and agencies, notfor-profit think tanks and consulting firms. The key element in starting their career has
been the development, while they were at CPROST, of a number of skills that not only
cover the academic subjects on which policy analysis is built but also the “life skills” of
preparing and presenting project proposals, communicating research findings and
providing clear and concise advice to senior managers who are not specialists in the field.
Students are always involved in the ongoing research work of the faculty. This work
usually falls into two areas: basic research funded by research granting councils and more
applied policy studies funded by a wide variety of public and private agencies. We
believe there appears to be no substitute for “hands-on” learning. Someone who wishes
to enter the world of policy analysis has to learn that no study is ever perfect and that
there are always trade-offs among schedule, subject matter, and the depth to which a
particular issue can be researched.
Managers of both public and private enterprises are beginning to realize that informed
policy and program management decisions can only be made with adequate information
on both the economic and social factors affecting the project. Time is always a constraint.
Information cannot be biased by specific economic or social schools of thought – the
advisor has to be able to provide information on factors covering the spectrum of political
views. At CPROST we hope that we can foster a professionalism in STI and innovation
studies that will assist Canada and Canadians in making the successful economic and
social decisions in the twenty-first century.
For more information, CPROST maintains a website <www.sfu.ca/cprost/>, or address
enquiries to:
The Director,
Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology,
Simon Fraser University,
515 West Hastings St.,
Vancouver, BC ., V6B 5K3, Canada